Thanks, neighbor.

[mn shutterbug]

I drove out to the area state park the other morning and didn't get a shot off. I hadn't taken a picture for over a week, and it was really starting to bother me. I went over to my neighbor's after lunch, sat on the steps of her back deck, and came back with these 2 shots. And to think, I only needed to go 2 blocks.

The cardinal was shot handheld at 1/60 sec at 400mm, which is why it isn't as sharp as the downy. The downy was shot at 1/640 sec. at 220mm. It makes quite the difference.

[mjs1973]

Nice job Mike. It just goes to show, we don't have to travel too far to find some nature to photograph.

[paulnj]

That downy image is awesome!